California Officials Look For Ways To Improve Cybersecurity

California lawmakers say the state needs to do a better job of protecting data, after a series of reports about flaws at state agencies. Two Assembly committees held a joint hearing Wednesday to examine cybersecurity in California.

A state audit last year found nearly every agency it surveyed wasn’t meeting California cybersecurity standards. At the hearing, state auditor Elaine Howell said the department in charge of training isn’t doing a good job.

"We were disappointed to see they weren’t reaching out to these agencies, weren’t asking, ‘Is this training effective? Are you struggling?’," says Howell.

As the State Government Reporter, Ben covers California politics, policy and the interaction between the two. He previously reported on local and state politics, business, energy, and environment for WFAE in Charlotte, North Carolina. Read Full Bio